Before my brother got the H2D, I used my A1 and P1S (both with AMS) without really thinking about workflow. I’d just load the filament and hit print — everything worked well, so there didn’t seem to be a reason to change.
But after watching how he was using the H2D, I realized how much he was saving — not just time, but filament too. The reduced purge waste, fewer swaps, and simplified slicing process were really noticeable. That got me thinking differently.
Now I find myself doing things like:
Looking for models split by colour across separate beds
Reworking older models to avoid unnecessary swaps
Slicing smarter to match the H2D’s efficiency
Tracking filament savings across projects
It’s not just a hardware change — it’s been a mindset shift for me. I now see multi-colour printing as something to optimize, not just decorate.
Has anyone else started slicing or designing differently because of the H2D?
Are you doing split-bed workflows, changing how you support colour transitions, or rethinking model layout?
Would love to hear what other people are doing now that these newer machines are part of the workflow!
When I say “split across separate beds” or “split-bed workflows,” I actually mean dividing a multi-color or multi-part model into different print plates or separate files (instead of printing everything in one go with multiple colors and a big purge tower).
For example, rather than using the AMS to swap colors on a single plate (which creates more purge waste), I prepare separate plates — each dedicated to one specific color. Then I print each plate in a single color and assemble them afterward.
Just to clarify: I don’t actually own an H2D myself — but after seeing how my brother uses his H2D and how efficient it is, it completely changed how I think about multi-color printing on my A1 and P1S.
Now, I actively seek out models that are already split across multiple plates, or I modify them myself so they can be printed in single colors. I also try to stay clear of full multi-color models where possible, because of the extra filament waste and purge towers.
Have you tried this kind of workflow before? Would love to hear what works best for you!
Honestly, color printing is cool, but not at the cost of time. I’ve always been very aware of the type of features that throw time out the window and avoided them. In some cases it is needed, but I have learned to be aware.
As far as waste… yeah it matters, but only a little. Let’s be honest, we print, test, and re-print quite a lot. Meaning there is always going to be waste. I’m just simply not sensitive to wasting filament, so that has never been a significant part of my calculus. However, I could understand if that was your business and multiplied over 1000’s of parts, that waste can make a significant difference. But that’s not my world.
I completely get what you mean about time — that’s a big part of why I started rethinking my approach. Seeing how much longer multi-color prints can take (with all the swaps and purges) really made me step back and look for simpler solutions.
Before I saw the H2D savings, I would see a multi-color model and not even think about the time or the cost. I just saw something I wanted to print, and my mindset was, “I have the filament and the AMS — let’s use them!”
Now, I think totally differently. When I see the same models today, I immediately think about the amount of filament it will take and the extra time.
For example, there’s a creator on MakerWorld called RedDadSteve who does a lot of multi-color models and also offers them as multi-part versions. If you take his Sonic model as an example:
The multi-color version (81 mm tall) takes about 1 day 9 hours 23 minutes, uses 389 g, and costs around £7.80.
The multi-part version, even scaled up to 155 mm, only takes about 8.5 hours, uses 205 g, and costs around £4.11.
Because it’s split onto separate plates, I can also run parts on both my printers and cut the time in half.
I just find it so interesting how my entire mindset changed after watching a printer I don’t even own (my brother’s H2D) and trying to apply similar time and cost savings to my own printing.
Really appreciate hearing your perspective. Have you ever tried splitting models like that, or do you always keep everything in one go?
I generally limit the number of layers that need different colors/filaments. However, splitting parts is another method I use, because I find multiple parts can actually make a print look better than a single print. It breaks up faces and looks more like what we are used to seeing in mainstream manufacturing.
I will say this, I definitely prefer 2 color prints now that I have an H2D. I have an AMS HT and an AMS 2 and have had great success using the two nozzles to print without a purge tower.
Seeker3D, I can’t help but notice your phrasing, post structure and intros/outros closely follow ChatGPT’s conversational style. And it’s a completely different style, including grammar, capitalization, use of punctuation, etc., than your posts back in February.
Hi, great observation — and no worries, it’s still me!
You’re totally right that my style has changed a bit recently. I actually have dyslexia, and in the past, I used the grammar checker in Word to help me write posts. But even then, it was a struggle — I would often write pages and pages just trying to get my point across, when it really only needed a few paragraphs. It took me ages, and sometimes I still felt like I wasn’t clear enough.
I always structured everything myself, but it was so time-consuming and often stopped me from posting at all. That’s why I mostly stayed away from forums — it was hard for me to express my point in a way that others could easily understand.
Recently, I started using AI tools (like ChatGPT) as an aid to help me shape and polish my posts. I like to think of it like a walking stick: it’s not there to walk for you, but to help you walk. I still write exactly what I want to say in my own words and then ask the AI to help make it clearer and easier to read — without changing my actual point.
All the ideas and experiences are mine, but now I feel more confident sharing them, and it has made joining discussions much easier for me.
Thanks for noticing and asking instead of assuming — I really appreciate that!
Wow, that’s really cool! I had never thought of using AI/LLMs as an accessibility aid! A substantial part of my job is writing and communicating; the longer I do it the more I realize how hard it is to do well. If it helps you feel more confident and willing to participate in discussions, that’s a huge win.
(It’s also kind of fascinating that ChatGPT itself has a distinct enough style that I noticed it. Perhaps eventually we’ll be able to train LLMs on our own writing so it can reproduce our own style. I’m not sure if that is exciting or terrifying to me…)
Anyway, thank you for the topic. I bought a P1S with AMS 2 in Bambu Lab’s anniversary sale. I’ve never had a multi-material printer before; for that matter this will be my first printer where the machine itself isn’t the hobby. (I’m kind of excited!) But even though being able to do multiple materials in one print is useful, I know it also can use up (waste!) a lot of filament. So I’ve been thinking about optimizing designs.
Lik3 Jun34memmike said…
3D printing uses a good chunk of energy. In my area, we pay about $0.37 per kWh. A print that takes, say, 20 hours, which consumes most of its energy up front but a steady energy load the whole time, can easily cost me a couple dollars in energy. Speed and efficiency of printing is a real concern. If I can spend a few minutes optimizing a design before sending it to the printer, it’s time well spent.